President Lee’s Tokyo visit signals new chapter in S. Korea–Japan relations ahead of U.S. summit

Welcome to Within The Frame, where we bring the most pressing issues across the globe into focus. I'm Kim Mok-yeon.

Diplomacy in Northeast Asia is entering a critical moment.

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung is beginning a series of high-stakes summits with a visit to Japan — notably before heading to Washington.

The unusual order of these meetings is seen as a deliberate signal to allies and rivals alike.

At the same time, his administration has accelerated its diplomatic reset, naming new ambassadors to both Tokyo and Washington.

On the Japanese side, Prime Minister Ishiba’s recent expression of “remorse” on the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II has raised expectations for progress in relations.

Now, with U.S. trade pressures mounting, and trilateral security cooperation on the table, tomorrow’s Seoul–Tokyo summit carries weight far beyond bilateral relations.

To help us break this down, we're joined by Patrick Cronin, Asia-Pacific Security chair at the Hudson Institute. Welcome.

Also joining us is Choi Eunmi, research fellow at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies. Good to see you.

1. President Lee Jae-myung has named new ambassadors to the U.S. and Japan just ahead of a series of bilateral summits with Washington and Tokyo, signaling full-scale preparation.

So what does this rapid reshuffling of his foreign policy team tell us?

Is it about projecting stability and continuity to the world? Or more about showing swift and decisive governance at home?

2. Tomorrow, August 23, the Korea–Japan summit will take place. It’s unusual for a Korean president to visit Japan before the U.S.

So how should we read this? What message does this send not only to Japan, but also to the U.S. and the broader international community?

3. Ahead of the summit, President Lee gave an interview to Japanese media, saying he would respect the 2015 comfort women agreement as a state-to-state promise.

At the same time, he stressed that sincere consolation matters more than financial compensation, urging a genuine response from Tokyo.

So what kind of diplomatic signal is he really sending here?

4. President Lee’s approach to Japan has been described as a “two-track” strategy — separating forward-looking cooperation from historical disputes.

But in practice, can this strategy actually deliver meaningful diplomatic results?

5. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Ishiba used his August 15 address — marking 80 years since the end of World War II — to speak of “remorse,” the first Japanese prime minister in 13 years to do so.

So how might Japan’s current domestic political climate shape the prospects for improving ties with Korea?

6. This will be the first official Korea–Japan summit since the two leaders agreed to restart shuttle diplomacy.

So what specific issues are likely to make it onto the agenda this time?

7. Against the backdrop of global supply chain shifts and ongoing U.S. tariff policies, economic cooperation between Seoul and Tokyo is also becoming more urgent.

So what pathways should the two countries explore to strengthen economic ties?

8. Because this summit comes just before the Korea–U.S. summit, many see it as laying the groundwork for highlighting trilateral cooperation among Seoul, Washington, and Tokyo.

So can this strategy of emphasizing trilateral ties really translate into tangible results at the Korea–U.S. summit?

9. Finally, taken together, these back-to-back Korea–Japan and Korea–U.S. summits could reshape the diplomatic landscape of Northeast Asia.

So looking long-term, how do you see the future of Korea–Japan relations, and the evolution of trilateral security cooperation with the United States?

Thank you for your time and for your insights tonight DR.CRONIN and DR.CHOI, we appreciate it.

And that will be all from us on Within the Frame.

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